GR 1
PRIOR
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 2423452
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY F.C.O TELNO.375 OF 24 MARCH 78,
INFO PRIORITY PEKING.
HKK,000/1
INDEX
28 MAR 1978
OFFICE
No lat
See /4's
1. A SMALL CHINESE GUNBOAT OF THE HOI KUNG CLASS PASSED
THROUGH HONG KONG WATERS YESTERDAY GOING FROM WEST TO
EAST BETWEEN LANTAU AND TSING YI ISLANDS AND THEN THROUGH.
THE EAST LAMMA CHANNEL TO THE SOUTH OF HONG KONG ISLAND. IT WAS WITHIN THE SQUARE BOUNDARY FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS: DURING THIS TIME IT WAS SHADOWED BY A MARINE POLICE
LAUNCH AND A HELICOPTER, THE NEWS IS REPORTED PROMINENTLY
IN TODAYS PRESS.
2. CHINESE GUNBOATS FREQUENTLY AND TRADITIONALLY OPERATE
IN HONG KONG WATERS IN MIRS BAY AND DEEP BAY. IT IS LESS
USUAL FOR THEM TO COME NEAR THE HARBOUR AREA. THE LAST
OCCASION OF WHICH WE HAVE A RECORD WAS IN 1963.
3. THE POLITICAL ADVISER WILL TAKE A SUITABLE OPPORTUNITY
TO MENTION THIS INCIDENT IN A LOW-KEY MANNER TO THE NCNA
AND GIVE THEM DETAILS OF THE BOAT. THIS WILL BE DONE NOT (REPEAT NOT) AS A PROTEST, BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF SEEKING
TO AVOID POSSIBLE MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND MAINTAINING
HARMONIOUS RELATIONS.
MACLEHOSE
PILES
HK & GD (5)
FED
NEWS D
MR MURRAY
CONFIDENTIAL
}